In surprise announcement, U.S. says troop withdrawal from Syria underway

SURPRISE! Despite National Security Adviser John Bolton’s signals and President Trump statements the administration was in no hurry to withdraw troops from Syria, the U.S. military confirmed this morning it has begun the initial stages of the pull-out.

Col. Sean Ryan, the chief U.S. military spokesman for the U.S.-led counter-ISIS coalition, is quoted by news agencies as announcing the start of a process of “deliberate withdrawal from Syria.” Ryan added he would provide no further information about “specific timelines, locations or troop movements.”